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UN seeks end to 'very dangerous' overflights
Envoy holds talks with Berri ahead of report on implementation of 1701A senior United Nations envoy said Friday that Israel's continued violations of Lebanese airspace "are very dangerous," stressing the world body's keenness to "halt or at least reduce" Israeli overflights in the coming weeks. This came as France said Friday it hoped the US would put pressure on Israel to end military flights over Lebanon, after French peacekeepers nearly launched missiles at Israeli jets flying carrying out mock raids. "This message must be sent by France and other countries, and also the UN ... We hope the Americans can send the same type of message to the Israelis," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei. "The ambassador took note yesterday of what the minister said, and I think he has made a commitment to provide us with a certain number of clarifications," he added. On Wednesday Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said French troops participating in the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in the South almost launched missiles at Israeli warplanes which had flown over their position in a threatening manner on October 31. In Beirut, the visiting UN political affairs officer, Michael Williams said: "The Israelis promised the UN they would look into the issue ... We hope to achieve progress in this regard." Williams, assigned by UN chief Kofi Annan to monitor the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, spoke to reporters after a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri. Israel's occupation of a Lebanese village along the Southern border was also nearing an end, he predicted. "I am sure that the Israelis will fully withdraw from Ghajar," he said, without providing any timeframe. "We had a very good meeting," Williams added. Resolution 1701, which secured a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah in this past summer's month-long war, took effect on August 14. Williams also expressed support for ongoing national talks in Lebanon sponsored by Berri, saying: "The Lebanese will reach a successful result." The UN envoy arrived in Beirut Thursday night after meeting earlier in the week with Israeli officials concerning the Jewish state's repeated violations of Lebanon's airspace. He is charged with gathering information from Lebanon and Israel before submitting a report to Annan, who, in turn, will submit his own report on 1701 to the Security Council at the end of the month. Earlier in the day, Williams met with Defense Minister Elias Murr for further discussion on the Israeli violations. "The orders made by the Lebanese Army Command are clear in terms of defying the Israeli overflights," Murr said. Accompanied by Geir Pedersen, Annan's personal representative in Lebanon, Williams later met with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, who underscored Beirut's commitment to implementing 1701. "Weapons are not being smuggled from Syria," Salloukh said in reference to a report by another UN envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen, on October 19 which said weapons were being smuggled from Syria to Hizbullah. Meanwhile, the National News Agency (NNA) said Friday that two Israeli bulldozers and an excavator were seen near Roueisset al-Alam, in the Shebaa Farms. The NNA also reported the entry of an Israeli infantry unit into the Shebaa Farms Thursday night, moving toward the Seddanah base from which the Israelis withdrew last May. And in the latest violations, a statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command said four Israeli jets violated Lebanese airspace on Friday. The fighter-bombers flew over several parts of the country, including Rmeish, Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, Nabatiyeh, Tyre, Beirut, Zahle, Baalbek, and Tripoli. Posted by: .com 2006-11-11 |
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